Credible Messenger: Invited Project Proposal Form

We are revising the Credible Messenger Reporting Project and we are not accepting unsolicited proposals at this time. This form is intended for teams who may be invited to submit a proposal.

Please tell us about your plan to collaborate and deliver reporting on gun violence, root causes and solutions from the community perspective.

We hope to see some reports carried by local news organizations, while other might be more effective on social media platforms. The possibilities are endless.

Every project must be informed by the community and supplemental evidence, respectful to all participants and attentive to the relationship between reporting and outcomes.

Approved project budgets may range from $500 to $7,500 to compensate both reporting partners and cover related expenses, and should be commensurate with the complexity and demands of the reporting. An equal amount should be reserved for the Credible Messenger and the collaborating professional producer or editor.

Budgets should include funding to compensate people from the community for their time if they appear as sources or subjects in the reporting. Exceptions may be made if prohibited by the reporting practices at collaborating news organizations.

Please respect that our resources are limited but this is a pilot project and positive outcomes could lead to expansion.

All work related to this project must be performed according to city and state COVID restrictions. The Center will set up Zoom meetings if helpful.

All participants must be 18 years of age or older.

DEADLINES: ALL WORK IN THIS SPRING’S COHORT MUST BE COMPLETED AND DELIVERED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF PROJECT APPROVAL OR BY MAY 31, 2024, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. ALL INVOICES, PRE-APPROVED PROJECT EXPENSE RECEIPTS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF PROJECT COMPLETION.

This is a pilot project and we want your feedback: Please contact us with any questions, concerns or recommendations.

Preparation

Before applying, both the Credible Messenger and partnering professional journalist should review the Resources for Credible Messenger Reporting Teams and related Frequently Asked Questions.

Have you both reviewed the pages linked above? *

Who will be leading this project?

Who will serve as the Credible Messenger reporting from the community? *

First

Last

The Credible Messenger must be previously approved to participate after having submitted a Credible Messenger Reporting Application.

Email *

Phone

Who will serve as the partnering professional editor or producer? *

First

Last

The professional partner must be previously approved to participate after having submitted an Editor / Producer Application.

Email *

Phone

Additional teammates

Approved teams may direct portions of their budget for additional producers in the Project Budget area below. Some have added photographers, video producers, etc. However, all producers involved in actual reporting must also submit and receive approval to work as Credible Messengers, people who self-report that their lives have also been impacted by gun violence.

What story will you be reporting?

Please answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

Please tell us about the story or stories you plan to report as part of this project? *

Why is this reporting important? How will it have impact? *

Does it address a specific problem and possible solution? *

Please tell us about the people who will be represented in your reporting. Be as specific as possible. Each story should have several subjects. *

Will this project focus primarily on one or more neighborhoods or sections of the city? *

What medium or media will you be using? Text, photos, audio, video, etc? *

What is the timeline for this project? When will you start and conclude reporting? Begin editing? Deliver final products? *

How will you distribute this work? Will it be shared by the partnering journalist's news organization? Distributed through social media? Other possibilities? *

Working title: *

Give your project a title. You can change it later.

Spring 2024 Cohort Deadline

Deadline: All projects must be completed and distributed by May 31, 2024 You may set an earlier deadline below if you prefer.

Project Budget

Total project budgets must not exceed $7,500. The Credible Messenger and Professional Partner should earn equal stipends. Stipends may also be included in the budget associate producers or to compensate people in the story for their time. Approved expenses should also be include in the total budget.

Proposed stipend for Credible Messenger Journalist: *

How many total hours will the Credible Messenger work on this project *

Proposed stipend for Partnering Professional Editor or Producer: *

How many total hours will the partnering professional editor or producer work on this project. *

Additional teammates: Proposed stipends for any associate producers, such as photographers, videographers, editors, if needed. *

Please add names, stipends, roles and contact info here. Please note: All producers involved in actual reporting must also submit and receive approval to work as Credible Messengers, people who self-report that their lives have also been impacted by gun violence.

Proposed stipend, if any, for the people in your story:

Number of people in your story receiving stipends, if any. *

Proposed budget for likely expenses: *

Please explain possible expenses you anticipate:

Expenses will only be reimbursed with prior approval and with receipts.

Total budget

The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting

Collaborating to advance empathetic, ethical and impactful journalism